Commanding Kandahar was also essential for realizing the dream of the expansion of the Safavid Empire. The Persians on the other hand considered Kandahar as a part of their empire particularly since the reign of Shah Tehmasap. To secure their rule over India, Mughals had to control it. Kandahar was important to Mughals because it connected India with Persia and was a gateway to Central Asia, Middle East and the Persian Gulf.
Kandahar was an area of great strategic significance and remained a bone of contention between not only the Safavids and the Mughals but the past other ruling empires of the region as well. Before proceeding further it is pertinent to understand the importance of Kandahar. His father Ganj Ali Khan was respected and honoured by Shah Abbas of Persia so much so that the Shah bestowed him with the title of Baba (father) and made him governor of Kandahar. The fact is that whatever one may chose to call it in retrospect the person who is faced with tough choices makes a decision to the best of his/ her abilities and plays the hand that is dealt by destiny. Some may call it expediency and some may call it betrayal while still others may term this as a smart choice. Throughout the annals of history, we find people who, owing to circumstances, have changed their stance and had even switched allegiances. “Whoever desires constant success must change his conduct with time,” diplomat and politician Niccolo Machiavelli said.
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